Evelyn: What?! The deed?!
Richard: Yes! The deed!
Evelyn: That's impossible! This mansion has been in the Vance family for twenty years!
Claire: It was in your family, Evelyn. Until your son used it as collateral for a fifty-million-dollar loan three years ago.
Claire smiled coldly, crossing her arms as she looked around the grand hall.
Claire: A loan that was bought out by my private firm last month.
Guest 1: Did she just say fifty million dollars?
Guest 2: Oh my goodness... the Vance family is broke!
Evelyn: Richard, tell me she's lying! Tell me this isn't true!
Richard lowered his head, avoiding his mother's frantic, piercing glare.
Richard: I was going to pay it back after the merger, Mother. I didn't know the firm was hers.
Claire: Because I don't put my name on every building I buy, Richard. I prefer to let fools expose themselves first.
Lily: Mommy, does that mean we own this big house?
Claire: Yes, baby. Everything in this room belongs to us now.
Evelyn stumbled back, clutching her chest as if she couldn't breathe. Her proud, arrogant posture collapsed entirely.
Evelyn: No... no! I live here! My family hosts the city galas here!
Claire: Not anymore. Your lease expired at midnight last night.
Evelyn: You can't just throw me out! I am Evelyn Vance!
Claire: And I am Claire Montgomery. The woman whose daughter you just called trash.
Claire walked slowly toward Evelyn, her high heels clicking loudly against the polished hardwood floor.
Claire: My daughter's father built an empire before he passed away. She inherits everything when she turns eighteen. You, on the other hand, have nothing.
Evelyn: Richard, do something! Call our lawyers!
Richard: There are no lawyers, Mother! The foreclosure papers were signed yesterday morning!
Claire: I was actually planning to give you a six-month grace period to move your things out quietly, Richard. I wanted to be civil.
Claire looked down at Evelyn, her eyes filled with supreme authority.
Claire: But then your mother put her hands on my child.
Evelyn: It was an accident! I lost my temper! The child spilled her drink on me!
Claire: You screamed in her face. You called her a piece of trash in front of fifty people.
Lily: She made my arm hurt when she pulled my shoulder, Mommy.
Claire's eyes flared with fresh fury as she looked at her daughter, then back at Evelyn.
Claire: She pulled her arm?
Evelyn: I barely touched her!
Claire: Guards!
The two security officers at the front door immediately turned toward Claire, standing straight at attention.
Guard 1: Yes, Miss Montgomery?
Claire: Escort Mrs. Vance out of my mansion immediately. Do not allow her to go upstairs. Do not allow her to gather her personal belongings.
Evelyn: WHAT?! You can't leave me with nothing!
Claire: She leaves with the clothes on her back. The dirty, punch-stained teal dress she cares about so much.
Guard 1: Understood, ma'am.
The guards stepped forward, grabbing Evelyn firmly by her arms.
Evelyn: Get your hands off me! Richard, stop them! Help me!
Richard stood frozen, staring at the floor in utter humiliation, unable to utter a single word in defense of his mother.
Claire: As for you, Richard, you have two hours to pack your desk in the study and clear off my property.
Richard: Claire... please. Where are we supposed to go?
Claire: I don't care where you go. But you will not stay under my roof for another minute.